New Zealand radio firm pulls MegaUpload advertising

New Zealand-based radio and TV network MediaWorks has cancelled a series of radio adverts placed by MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom to promote his soon-to-launch new file storage website, Mega.

As previously reported, the ads went on air across eight of MediaWorks’ ten radio stations earlier this week, but were quickly pulled. A spokesperson for the company told NBR that the ads were removed from rotation for “commercial reasons”, adding that “this is a unique situation”.

Meanwhile, an unnamed source said that the move had been made specifically because of pressure from music and movie companies that also advertise across the MediaWorks network – the company’s TV3 channel, it’s probably worth mentioning, also airs the newly launched New Zealand version of ‘X-Factor’.

Taking to Twitter yesterday shortly after receiving the news yesterday, Dotcom said: “Apparently some music labels complained to MediaWorks about our radio ads. Booking of over 500 ad plays terminated. Wow!”

He added: “Not blaming Mediaworks. They are a great company with great people. It’s the music labels that are abusing their power, again”.

You kind of have to wonder if Dotcom had hoped this would happen, given how much more coverage and exposure the cancelling of his ads will bring him. Anyway, adverts or not, Mega is due to launch this weekend.